Warm weather on its way

It looks like March might live up to its reputation of coming in like a lion and going out like a lamb.

The Tri-State area is expected to get a reprieve from the cold, wind and rain that has roared through the area for most of the month.

Summer-like temperatures are expected to move in today and remain through the weekend, according to the National Weather Service in Sterling, Va.

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Temperatures are expected to climb into the upper 70s today under partly sunny skies, with little change Friday and into the weekend, said Jim Decarufel, meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

On Friday, it's expected to be mostly sunny, breezy and warm with high temperatures in the upper 70s and possibly reaching 80, he said.

Low temperatures will hover in the upper 40s to low 50s, according to the forecast.

On Saturday, temperatures are expected to be in the upper 70s to 80 degrees with lows in the mid-50s, Decarufel said.

Partly cloudy skies with temperatures in the upper 60s to mid-70s are expected for Sunday, according to the forecast.

The month started out with windy days, cold nights and rain.

Winds gusting an average of 25 mph blew across the Tri-State area from March 2 to 5 and a half-inch of rain fell during that period, according to records by Hagerstown weather observer Greg Keefer.

On March 8 through 12, strong winds and heavy rain continued, causing flooding and power outages.

The Hagerstown area received .75 inches of rain on March 8 and almost an inch of rain on March 9, according to Keefer's records.

Northwest winds gusted to 36 mph on March 10 and 11 with wind chill temperatures in the teens and single digits, the records said.

Flood warnings were reinstated from March 18 to 21 when a total of 3.58 inches of rain fell in the area.

So far this month, Hagerstown has received 6.05 inches of rain and .3 inches of snow and ice, the records said.